How do I maintain momentum with my goals?
It’s easy to set goals and lay out a plan and then forget about it. You’re motivated for a burst of time, and then motivation wanes. Check in frequently with your short-term and medium-term goals to see how you are tracking and evaluate whether you need to adjust anything. If you need help breaking down your mapping out your goals, check out our resource on how to manage complex tasks.
Remember, motivation also comes from recognising your progress along the way.
Monitor your progress
Some ideas and suggestions for monitoring your progress are:
 | Have your goal written down where you can see it. |
 | Keep a tally of goals you have completed. |
 | Have friends, family, or academic mentors check in with you to keep yourself accountable. |
 | Celebrate when you achieve milestones. Every small step takes you towards your big goal! |
Don’t skip reflection
A crucial but often forgotten element of goal-setting is reflection. It’s important to set aside some time to reflect on your progress. Ask yourself:
- What worked?
- What didn’t work?
- What did I learn about myself and how I operate?
- How did I feel?
- What strategies felt energising? What strategies felt draining?
- What can I celebrate?
Revising your goals
Sometimes you’ll evaluate and realise that your goals aren’t working. Don’t give up! This is normal. When you’re not meeting your goals, it's crucial to reassess and adjust them.
Begin by identifying the problem. Review what’s happened and without judgement, ask yourself:
- What specific obstacles are preventing progress?
- Are there any external factors or internal factors impacting my ability to achieve my goals?
- What’s my “why?” How strong was my intrinsic motivation? How strong was my extrinsic motivation with regard to this goal?
- How can I channel more motivation?
Use the SMART framework to assess your goals. At this point you might like to seek advice from trusted friends or professionals, such as learning skills advisers. They might see something that you are missing.
Adjusting your goals might involve refining the details, adding more specific or smaller steps in areas that you’re finding difficult, or being creative in trying a new strategy. Don’t compare yourself to others. Remember that your goals need to work for you, not someone else.